Estonian communities around the world celebrate Estonia’s centenary with music, dance and festivitiesPublished: 20.02.2018

Estonians will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Estonia’s independence with dozens of events from Helsinki to Singapore, with more than thirty Estonian communities involved.

Festivali "Estival" galakontsert Stockholmis. Foto: Stenbocki maja

In Canada, around a thousand Estonians will gather for the festive flag raising at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto. In addition, events in Canada dedicated to the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia will also be held in Vancouver, Hamilton and Montreal. Estonians living in the United States have also prepared celebrations in grand style, with nearly 10 events taking place on both the East and the West coasts. For example, the one-man performance "Memories of Ivan Orav" will be performed by Andrus Vaarik at the New York Estonian House.

In Europe, Estonia 100 festivities, receptions, church services and events organised by Estonians are taking place in Stockholm, Lund, Gotland, Helsinki, Berlin, Bonn, Copenhagen, Brussels, Vienna, Zurich, London, Dublin, Los Gigantes, Luxembourg, Blansko, Reykjavik, Edinburgh and Prague, as well as in other cities. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who has roots in Estonia, has agreed to attend the Estonia 100 party organised by the Vienna Estonian School. Estonian Independence Day in London is being celebrated with an Estonian Day, where local food will be served, crafts taught and folk dances performed. A large party will also be taking place in Los Gigantes, Tenerife, with performances by Anne Velli, while Olav Ehala, Nele-Liis Vaiksoo and Lauri Liiv will perform at the Luxembourg Estonians' Party.

Celebrations will also be taking place in more distant locations such as Barranquilla in Columbia and in Singapore, where there is also a small Estonian community. The folk dance groups Tarbatu and Sõprus, Väägvere village choir and choir Rõõmusõõm are all travelling from Estonia to visit and perform for their compatriots in Australia.

"It is truly noteworthy that so many Estonian communities abroad have decided to celebrate the centenary is such grand style," Jaanus Rohumaa, Head of the Estonia 100 Organising Committee said. He added that the organised events are an excellent example of how the anniversary can be celebrated with the same grandeur and joy beyond Estonia’s borders, as Estonians will be doing in Estonia this week.

In addition to the events organised by Estonian communities abroad, other events are also being held in other countries for the celebration of Estonia’s centenary during the 100th anniversary week. For example, Festival Baltikum, dedicated to the 100th anniversaries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, kicked off in Germany last week, where the opening concert was dedicated to Arvo Pärt's music. The festival will continue throughout this week, bringing various Estonian musicians to the stage, led by conductor Kristjan Järvi. The music festival MustonenFest will take place in Israel, which this year is also dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, and during which a total of 20 concerts will be given all over Israel. Vox Clamantis will perform a concert at the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tbilisi.